Detroit Lions defensive line doesn't place emphasis on batting down passes

AP File PhotoHouston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt has become one of the best in the league at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage.

ALLEN PARK -- Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt has become known for his ability to bat down passes, so much so that he has earned the nickname J.J. Swat.

"There's a lot of guys that knock down passes, and generally they're big slugs that stay at the line of scrimmage and don't pass rush," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "He just does it on his way to the quarterback. He's trying to rush the passer, but he just has good vision to be able to get his hands up to knock those balls down."

Through 10 games, Watt has batted down 11 throws, four of which have turned into interceptions for the Texans. The Detroit Lions defensive line rotation, eight players in total, have combined to knock down four.

Why aren't the Lions more aggressive about putting their hands in the passing lanes?

"We get after the quarterback and running back," defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "In my opinion, when you're batting down passes, you're not getting to the quarterback. You're standing still and not near the quarterback enough."

Of course, Suh's logic falls flat when you consider Watt ranks third in the NFL with 11.5 sacks and has generated an additional 27 pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

"There's definitely a fine line you have to walk, deciding whether you're going to continue to rush the passer or knowing when your rush has kind of stalled and it's time to put your hands up," Watt said.

Kyle Vanden Bosch also admitted the team doesn't place an emphasis on batting down passes. He explained how a good quarterback knows how to take advantage of an aggressive lineman with a reputation for leaving the ground.

"Some of these quarterbacks are so good at pump faking, getting defensive lineman off their feet, and then either scrambling for yardage or buying time," Vanden Bosch said. "That's the most frustrating thing, if you feel like you could have gotten a sack if you kept rushing, but you left your feet, tried to bat a ball down, and gave the quarterback an opportunity to extend the play."

Defensive tackle Corey Williams called Watt a "complete" defensive lineman citing his ability to both rush the passer and stop the run. As for the ability to knock down throws, Williams said it's a gift.

"It's not really coached. It's just something you do. Watt has a knack for it."

While the Lions may not coach their lineman to get their hands up, Watt says it's been ingrained in him since his college playing days.

"When I was at Wisconsin, coach Charlie Partridge worked on it with me a lot, and now that I'm in the NFL, coach Bill Kollar works on it with us every day," Watt said. "It's a combination of instincts and coaching. If you practice something enough, you're going to get good at it. But you also have to have the right timing, right line of sight and all those things to make it happen."